After 44 days of the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice Renato Corona, the senators ruled out guilty with 20 votes of versus 3. The senators who voted guilty are Edgardo Angara Jr, Peter Alan Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Frank Drillon, Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, TG Guingona, Ping Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda,Serge Osmeña, Francis Pangilinan, Koko Pimentel, Ralph Recto, Bong Revilla, Tito Sotto, Antonio Trillanes IV, Manny Villar and Juan Ponce Enrile. While senators who voted not-guilty were Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Bongbong Marcos.
Chief Justice Renato Corona is found guilty with the violation of the Article 2 of the Impeachment Case filed against him by the prosecution team that tackles on betrayal of public trust for non-declaration of his statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN). The trial takes place in 44 days that includes presentation of evidence by the prosecution and defense panel, statement ofCoronawhich leads to his walk out and hospitalization and now the voting of the senator-judges.
In the verdict, Senator Cayetano (Pia) affirms that the government should be transparent and truthful to the country they are serving. In any case that they betrayed public trust must resign his or her position.
But in one of the speech of Senator Santiago she left a message if ever Corona was found guilty what will be the next for the country, will it reflect that those who convicted him be considered clean and innocent. But in that case why is thePhilippinesstill on the list as one of most corrupted country in world and also according to her she looks at the law rather on the political side of the story. In the end she voted not guilty.
Escudero congratulated Corona for being brave enough of releasing a waiver to disclose all his bank accounts and assets to be transparent to those who are they serving (Filipino people). He mentioned that he already submitted a signed waiver to disclose all his assets and bank accounts, and according to him let it be a responsibility and challenge to all to be truthful to the county. He hopes that after the trial let the healing that this issue made begins whether it favors toCoronaor not.
While Estrada remember what happen few years ago where his father, former President Joseph Ejercito “Erap” Estrada who faced the impeachment case to out him in the position. According to him it was painful to him and he sees how some of the officials disrespect the credibility of the court when the prosecutors walked out that time. And now even it is hard for him he is now there giving his decision which is guilty because he was not convinced with the evidence given by the defense ofCorona.
According to Lito Lapid, he is not fully familiar with the law as he represents the masses that didn’t finish their studies and knows how law fully works. But still he listened and observed the process of the impeachment trial and he ended his statement with an apology of being not fully equipped with the right education about law. “Pasensya na po, pasensya na po… pero ang hatol ko ay guilty.” Lapid ended.
It was Revilla’s vote to confirm the conviction ofCoronawhich is the 16th vote which was followed and supported by Sotto, Trillanes, and Villar. In the closing statement of the presiding officer Enrile it wasCoronawho gave him the oath of office as a senator few years ago. He mentioned that the charge is about the failure to disclose SALN and the Chief Justice does not stand accused of having amassed any illegal wealth.
The Chief Justice Renato Corona becomes the first high-ranking official in Philippine history to be removed from office via the method prescribed by the Constitution which is the impeachment trial. With this mark in the political history in thePhilippinesit will challenge government employees from top ranking down to lower position to be more transparent in terms of their SALN as part of their oath when they assumed public office.
